Northern Ireland Working Hunter and Showing Festival
It’s show time and with a record 1,100 entries for this year’s NI Festival it’s certainly got the makings of being the best so far! Read on to find out what they have planned for this year and why you should be there! Click here to visit their website and view the schedule online for the show
Grand Prize of £1,00 for the Supreme Working Hunter Champion at the Festival
The Northern Ireland Festival is running its 8th annual show at Cavan Equestrian Centre on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th April 2012. The Festival has built up its reputation as Ireland’s Premier Horse & Pony showing event over the past 7 years and now runs a 2-day show at Cavan each April. Entries have grown from just 350 in the inaugural year to well over 1,100 entries already for the 2012 show – and is still growing! 
The show attracts competitors from all over Ireland and is the highlight of the year for many showing competitors.
Wide Range of Classes
Classes at the Festival cater for all experience and age ranges so there is something for everyone. There are the usual novice and open ridden and working hunter horse and pony classes as well as in-hand horse and pony classes all of which are judged by experienced and high-profile mainland judges. There are also fun and novelty classes such as the fancy dress classes and the adult lead rein!! The coloured classes, with a new coloured championship, and the veteran class always prove very popular. There is also a home produced / amateur rider class as well as a Race Horse to Riding Horse class and a Ladies Championship for both astride and side saddle entries. Other popular classes include the pairs classes and the classic to music classes – both of which have their respective championships in the prestigious evening performances.
The highlight of show, for many competitors, is the opportunity to enjoy the rare experience of participating in the two nights of gala evening performances. It is these championships that most competitors aspire to compete in and to win a coveted Festival sash. The first night is dedicated to novice horses and ponies and in-hand competitors with a Mini Novice Champion of Champions; In-Hand Supreme and Novice Supreme Championships. The second evening performance hosts the Open Mini Champion of Champions; Open Ridden Horse and Open Ridden Pony Championships as well as the Festival Supreme Working Hunter Championship.
Grand Prize of £1,000
The Sunday evening performance culminates in the awarding of the ‘grand’ prize of £1,000 to the Festival Supreme Working Hunter Champion. This Supreme Champion is chosen from amongst the 14 winners of the Festival open working hunter finals. To compete in these classes competitors must have qualified over the winter months at one of the qualifying shows. The range of classes caters for ponies from cradle stakes to 153cms as well as M&M working hunter ponies. The horse classes include a 4 year old class, small hunter working hunter as well as classes ranging from heights of 80cms – 1.1m. To obtain details of the few remaining qualifying shows or for further information on the schedule, please check the Festival website at www.northernirelandfestival.co.uk
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